P&G grants Cargill an exclusive license to develop a biobased acrylic acid production technology
Procter & Gamble (P&G) has granted Cargill an
exclusive license that allows Cargill to further develop and commercialize a
technology that converts lactic acid into acrylic acid. This biobased acrylic
acid could be incorporated in a range of applications from superabsorbent
polymers in hygiene products to thickeners in household paints.
Press release (Cargill): “Procter & Gamble and Cargill
collaborate to bring nature-powered innovation, fueling the future for more
sustainable products”,
13/5/2020.
Figure 1. P&G grants Cargill an exclusive
license to develop a biobased acrylic acid production technology
P&G scientists (Dimitris I. Collias, Jane E.
Godlewski, and Juan E. Velásquez Velez) were recently announced as winners of
the American Chemical Society (ACS) 2020
Award for Affordable Green Chemistry for the development of this proprietary technology based on the catalytic
dehydration of lactic acid to acrylic acid. It is anticipated that the scaling
up of the process will take several more years before impacting consumer
products in the marketplace. The use of biobased acrylic acid could reduce GHG
emissions and contribute to the manufacturing of greener products for years to
come, something that is important to a range of stakeholders, including
consumers and business leaders.